Spangle Call Lilli Line - Isolation

Eight new songs in this year's first release out of an anticipated two, with the next one entitled "Purple" soon to be released. I managed to listen to a few, courtesy of Story of a Charmless Man. Read it up on Japan Live too.

Spangle Call Lilli Line continue on with their success with a different approach and it is absolutely fascinating. I have yet to listen to all the tracks but I'm already loving what I have come across.

It Remains To Be Seen - Spangle Call Lilli line

Halcali

It is unusually warm after noon, infested with mosquitos, annoying flies, heavy moistured air at night, amazingly stale after 6pm; it's hard to get used to where I grew up. I need something to cheer me up.

There is this very nice blog I follow closely where the writer frequents gigs and writes about the music scene in Tokyo. Japan Live recently featured a video of this hip hop duo Halcali entitled Strawberry Chips.

Check it out:

I find it absolutely entertaining just cause it is so expressive. We are slowly forgetting how to have fun. Gotta keep that youthful approach.

Boozoo Bajou

Helloooo September! There will be some major changes in my life within this month. It's just another crossroad in my life, so to speak. I am expecting a big 'something' today or otherwise tomorrow. It should be featured in my next post, I hope.

Alright, just a couple of nights ago, I found a handful of good downtempo (not the biggest fan of house music but I find it hard to distinguish some) albums by Boozoo Bajou, a musical duo from Germany known for their distinct blend of Cajun with occasional raggae-mic sounds. I have not the chance to check out their newest album but here are couple of selections from their previous albums for your enjoyment.

However, I am more keen on their less-Cajun ones for a start.






Boozoo Bajou does quite a few remixes for other artists and this is where the Cajun-feel comes into play. Here is a splendid beautiful remix of Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia":

Scott Belcastro's works animated

I kept reminding mysef to blog about Scott Belcastro's works when I first got introduced to his works through project: gallery' s blogger, Beau. Not been entirely into his works but I do keep an eye on his progress.

I quite like his compositions. Solitary being (including other than human) wandering in a solitary world.

His latest work is an animated project of his works in a music video for the band, The Deer Tracks, entitled Slow Collision. What a splendid combination by the music for the art and vice versa.


""Slow Collision" is such a beautiful ambient track with vocals that seem to touch that inner child within all of us. You close your eyes and feel as if you are floating through beautiful forests and lush landscapes."

Scott Belcastro

Alberto Cerriteño animated MTV for Austin TV

Alberto Cerriteño, one of my favourite illustration artists just posted up a music video made for Mexican Indie-instrumental group Austin TV entitiled Shiva (Isn't that a Hindu God's name?). I previously blogged about a video (here) he did a while ago when I first introduced him, but this one has so much more things going around in it.

The video has a smooth slow start and subsequently burst literally into action with whimsical creatures popping out, inferno started at the rear and monsters appearing. The last monster that appeared does remind me of my custom Mellow, most notably from the moustache. I also noticed that he likes showing bits of blood, seen when old man Mario hit his head during the drop. Check out the dog too.

"The story is based in an original idea from the band and tells one of many stories of this old man, named Mario Lupo and his xoloscuincle dog, Kerdoc. They accidentally fall in a hidden magic forest which actually is the devil's cave. Hope you like the animation, the art and of course, the music!"

From my point of view, Alberto is one of the top artists that has depth in his illustration works. Fantastic compositions and I just went through his list of works on his site again, I am absolutely impressed and I am glad that I had commissioned him earlier on for a custom which blew me away.

More info on Alberto's blog.

360 degree panoramic lens Music Video

Cut Chemist - 1st Big Break

I find this video absolutely enjoyable. Did not require much computer graphic alterations, just a simple revolutionary lens.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" - Leonardo DaVinci

mellow dramas

Been a long time since I talked about music. Just been looping the same kind of music throughout my work-hectic period. But never got tired of the lounge ones.

This time round, I would recommend Mellow Dramas, featuring groovy laid-back beats fused with love poetry. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it?





Check out Mellow Drama's MySpace page here.

more SCLL

I took time to dig out the rest of Spangle Call Lilli Line's albums and considering they were released quite a while back, I did a good job locating them. I mentioned them here sometime ago and I cannot resist promoting them again since their music has gotten embedded deeply into me. Absolutely love japanese indie rock!

Their first album was released in 2001 and the breakthrough came only in their 3rd album "Nano" in 2003.

For more condensed information, refer to keikaku.net.

And a real get-to-know SCLL interview done by Japan Live here.

If you would allow me to share some of my favourites:

Thievery Corporation

The more lounge tunes I search and come across, the more the name Thievery Corporation seems to get embedded into my head. I am aware that they do a lot of remixes and of course, their own compilations but only recently I found out that they are quite the big guns in what they do. It does seem that they rely heavily on various artists and their songs to implement their remixes on. Unlike Blue Six (mentioned here) which I particular love, Thievery Corporation does a much wider range of electronic music, to name a few; Indian classical, Brazilian and Zen. The wide range helps to cover listeners of various taste.

I personally very much prefer the usual mild down-tempo lounge-type sort of music. Never the Indian-influenced ones at all, which tends to be quite popular.

Bottom line is, they create some of the best lounge tracks known out there, in many languages too.








For those in the UK, catch them live at The Big Chill Festival on 1st August at Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire.

Beat Crusaders

I recently re-watched the anime BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad and really got into this band Beat Crusaders whose song 'Hit in the USA' was featured in the openings. They are even wider known for their song 'Tonight, Tonight, Tonight' featured as one of the openings in the anime Bleach.

I've not bothered to watch Bleach just cause it is slightly too long and on-going to my liking. But the 26-episode anime BECK is just an absolutely awesome anime. Basically tells how an ordinary 14-year old found his way into music and ending up discovering an incredible voice for the band by the same title.

Anyway, the songs throughout the anime are incredibly good. Back to Beat Crusaders, also commonly know as BECR. They started out as an indie band and revolved into its current Japanese rock/punk-pop genre. Their are particularly remembered for their masked faces by printed drawings resembling their real faces.

I particularly love "Moon on the Water", "Isolation", "Winterlong" and "Japanese Girl". Pretty good lyrics. Lead vocalist kicks rums.

To listen to some of their hits, tune here.

And of course, their concerts are absolutely fun and wild!

Central Living

Came across this album while browsing through Naked Music dance music record label. To be honest, this is a splendid album that will keep you entertained for a long time. Though released in 2002, its mix of deep house, down tempo - smooth soulful grooves and with Lisa Shaw as the vocal artist, makes it an absolute favourite.

This track is also available in Bare Essentials - Vol. 2.

Can't believe I'm getting back into house music again. Though I must insist it is of a different level this time around.

Kaskade

Not as big a fan for house music as I once used to some while back. Kaskade, stage name for Ryan Raddon, a DJ/producer/remixer/artist who was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1972, raised in Salt Lake City, Utah as a teen, and now calls San Francisco, California home.

His dance/club/house/electronic music albums have always been well-received, particularly his 2004 released album, In The Moment that saw Kaskade's first top 10 single with "Steppin' Out".

I personally love his 2006 album, The Calm. It is a much chilled album with less drum-driven, meaning less 'house'.




Tracklist:

01. Wink of an Eye
02. Heart Attack
03. McCammon
04. Right Dream
05. Soft Upon the Lips
06. Remembering Rufus
07. Stay This
08. Nobody Else
09. Words and Melody
10. Surrender


My favourite tune from the album is definitely "Right Dream", which not surprisingly is one of the least popular among his usual house fans.

Blue Six

I am not usually so much a big fan of house music as I used to many years ago. The only type of music I listen to at this point is pretty much lounge, jazz funk and jazz; low ambience slow paced down tempo music, so to speak.

However, Blue Six is quite an exception. Let the music speaks for itself.

"Blue Six--aka Jay Denes and guests--have built up a formidable reputation for crafting deep, textured and eminently soulful house music. Their consistently seductive productions have built up an almost cultish following among house fans who yearn for something a little deeper than traditional four to the floor club fare."

Sade - By Your Side (Blue Six remix)
This is a real good song, trust me. Ignore the young beautiful lady.

Should you choose to begin your venture, I would recommend the album 'Beautiful Tomorrow'. Though released back in 2002, it remains one of their most successful and best loved album.

"The pitter-patter drum-beats, gentle guitar plucks, smooth bass and gentle propulsion of these tracks makes for a wonderful aura of well-being and optimism"

Blue Six site

Natural Calamity

If anyone can locate this album for me, drop me a line.


"The Shibuya-kei trio known as Natural Calamity is a bit of an anachronism compared to others in the rich Japanese pop scene characterized by Cornelius and Pizzicato Five. The earthy trip-hop blues produced by Shunji Mori and Kuni Sugimoto, plus American Stephanie Heasley's countrified vocals come in marked contrast to Tokyo's many French/Brazilian/exotica aficionados."

Peach Head is a successful excursion into soft, bass-driven pop music with a heady feel to the mix. With a pinch of stretched and elongated fragile drones, like playing music underwater.


Track listing:

1. Dark Water & Stars
2. As You Know (Dust Brothers Remix)
3. So Good
4. Tomorrow
5. Jessica
6. And That's Saying a Lot
7. That's the Way Love Goes
8. As You Know (Anything Could Happen)
9. In the Wee Wee Time (Original Version)
10. And That's Saying a Lot (Natural Calamity Alternate Remix)

Dark Water & Stars

Kahimi Karie

Kahimi Karie, I absolutely adore you. Be my girl.

"Follow my eyes, follow my feelings

Follow my future wherever it's leading"

Yes, I know. She isn't young anymore. But she remains as attractive as she was 10 years back. She is well-known for her singing style in whisper-like-vocal in English, Japanese and French. She had both collaborations and songs written by Momus and Cornelius, whom I will be mentioning on a later day.

"At this time she was referred to as Shibuya-kei Princess". (wikipedia)


Official website

A taste of Bossa Nova

Started tuning in to Bossa Nova music nearing three years now. Loving every bit of Bossa Nova tune I find along the way. Mixture of Jazz and Samba and gradually now it's all kinds of things fushioned together.

Of course, how can we forget the pioneers such as João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, Bebel Gilberto and definitely my favourite, Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Bookmarked this video more than year ago, fellow Bossa Nova enthusiast cum musician, Major Huang performs a classic piece:

A beautiful, relatively new song (not so much of Bossa Nova) with Jobim on piano:

Love Psychedelico

"Your Song"

The band was formed in 1997 by singer Kumi and guitarist Naoki Sato. In Japan they are often called Delico for short.

Stylistically, Love Psychedelico is highly reminiscent of the British Invasion of the late 60s, both members having cited The Beatles and Led Zeppelin as influences, though the influence of American folk and blues are also present (Kumi having claimed Janis Joplin and Sheryl Crow, and Sato Bob Dylan, as influences). To pay tribute to their influences, Love Psychedelico sometimes borrow song titles from the bands that influence them.

Kumi's lyrics are a mix of English and Japanese, a phenomenon common to popular Japanese music, but uncommon in that significant amounts of the English lyrics are comprehensible and well-crafted, rather than simply employing a few catch phrases as so many J-pop idols tend to do. Kumi often attributes her English language proficiency to her early childhood in San Francisco.

Source: Wiki

Love Psychedelico website

FPM 400% Be@rbrick

I still cannot seem to get my glances off Be@rbricks, particularly the 400%s. Fortunately, I have passed on pretty much 98.55% of the releases the past two years. Something I am quite pleased about.

But, NOT THIS ONE! [300 pieces]. I'm a big fan of FPM. Good music.

*images taken from Beautifully Insane

And Mr. Tanaka with the designing process on his previous bear

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Japanese recording artist Tomoyuki Tanaka,

aka Fantastic Plastic Machine, in a 1998 publicity photo.

He is considered to be part of the Shibuya-kei movement, drawing heavily from bossa nova, lounge music, house music, and '60s movie soundtracks, but he also incorporates many other types of music.

Tanaka's song "Electric Lady Land" has been featured on the movie soundtrack of The Girl Next Door. He has also been featured on some of DJ Stephane Pompougnac's Hôtel Costes CD series. His song "Bachelor Pad (f.p.m. edit)" was featured on the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack. A short edit of his song "Beautiful Days" is featured on the Japanese music game beatmania IIDX 6th style. As well, "Theme of Luxury", "S'Il Vous Plait", "There Must Be an Angel" and "Warm Up Music" are heard in the British sitcom Spaced. In 2003, his "Different Colors" was featured in a Louis Vuitton commercial created by superflat artist Takashi Murakami. The commercial featured a panda that eats a girl and her cell phone; the three are then transported into an ethereal Louis Vuitton world. This commercial played in Louis Vuitton stores in Japan.

An ad campaign for LOUIS VUITTON by Mamoru Hosoda. an updated alice in wonderland, in which a girl, searching for her lost cell phone, floats in a dizzying world of the company's logos. While waiting to meet her friends outside of a Louis Vuitton store, Aya's cell phone is eaten by the LV Panda, who then promptly swallows Aya - but the inside of his stomach is gateway to a psychadelic wonderland. Based on characters created by famed superflat artist Takashi Murakami.

Fantastic Plastic Machine official website

FPM Wiki

Ego Wrappin'

One of my favourite catchy tunes, 'A Love Song'





"do you know ska musicu?! i don't know ska musicu!"


Born and raised in the Western part of Japan known as Kansai, and forming their band in 1996 in Osaka, Mori and Nakano bring a certain Osaka extroversion to their music. Lead female vocalist, Nakano, has a distinct powerful voice whoose impressionistic lyrics are delivered alternately in Japanese and English.

"The EGO-sound reflects free atmosphere and hot emotion, which Jazz and Rock music had prior to becoming just titles of genres, and draws from the spirit of our living world.Facing music sincerely, jumping the walls of genres easily, they will tell you how to enjoy music with their pop sense. You feel their song vibrations directly. EGO-WRAPPIN’s thrilling performances of their exciting material have become romantic miracles of today."


Ego Wrappin' official website

Advantage Lucy

Another awesome Japanese indie band, one of the tops.